Welcome!
Meet Rayna
Based out of Grand Haven in West Michigan, I specialize in wedding, lifestyle, and family portrait natural light photography.
From a young age, there's always been a part of me that knew I was put on this earth to make people smile. I took God's call quite literally and turned "creating smiles" into my full time job! I believe photography is the art of not only capturing life's special moments, but a method to make them, too. In each photography session, I take great care to foster an easy going environment for a joy filled experience full of real moments, and real smiles.
MY INSPIRATION
The times I feel most myself are when I'm in my favorite places- places surrounded by nothing man made. Laying in the grass, looking up through the trees and seeing light be filtered through the leaves, and listening to the wind rustle. These are the types of places that leave me feeling the most inspired. I take that feeling with me through all of my art, emphasizing the natural beauty and talents that accompany every single human being. To me, God's most beautiful creations, people and the earth, are at their most beautiful when they remain true to themselves without any alterations- just like my favorite places.
HOW I GOT HERE
I've always felt the need to be creative. In every stage of my life I've found ways to display my imagination through art. I grew up on a farm outside of a very small Kansas town where I had rolling hills and the most vibrant skies right in my backyard. I credit where I was raised as my inspiration for creating.
Watching my parents outpour the work ethic and faithfulness they did that comes with running a family and a farm has stuck with me through the years and plays a large part in the personal drive I apply to my own life's work. I am so thankful for God's hand in blessing me with the people and places he did.. I'd be lost without them.
WHY I DO IT
After a session, I always leave more energized than I was when I got there. Photography gives me the opportunity to partake in my favorite things - being introduced to the sweetest people, finding beauty and joy in the small things, making others smile, and getting to travel around amazing places. I hope to never stop learning through photography and these experiences. I strive to always be improving my craft with intentions that it'll keep leading me to those new opportunities- and that it's a well that never runs dry. I believe photography is a path that allows me to express myself and make art for the good of others. That's something I'll never be able to get enough of.
Every session I photograph, gallery I deliver, and client I meet, I put my whole heart into.
Each part of the photography experience is a part of the love letter- signed, sealed, and delivered,
From, Rayna
7
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
20+
PUBLICATION FEATURES
20+
FIVE STAR REVIEWS
A LOVE LETTER TO MY FAVORITE
PLACE
The view of the rolling hills at my family fam in Kansas.
SAYING
"I will see the goodness of The Lord in the land of the living."
PAST TIME
Anything that involves being creative or being outside!
MOVIE
Stand By Me.
SEASON
Spring! Could not live without the excitement of seeing the first blooms of the season.
FOOD
Ice cream! A hundred times ice cream. I am definitely a "sweet treat" girl.
THROUGH THE YEARS
FEBRUARY 1999
Little Rayna Grace was born into an amazing family of fifth generation farmers in small town, Kansas. Full of spunk and sass since day one, I danced in plastic princess heels through my toddler years.
THROUGH THE YEARS
OCTOBER 2004
Moved into a new house with my own bedroom that had white walls, so I painted pink flowers, butterflies, and a rainbow on them.
THROUGH THE YEARS
DECEMBER 2006
My entire childhood I was very involved with sports, starting sports camps by the time I was in first grade. Throughout my life I competed in softball, volleyball, basketball, track, and a couple weightlifting competitions here and there.
THROUGH THE YEARS
AUGUST 2013
An art program was introduced to my high school at the beginning of my freshman year. I got way into painting and drawing, and way annoyed when my art teacher handed me a photography assignment I wanted no part of.
THROUGH THE YEARS
MAY 2014
I started liking the idea of creating the most random content through photo and video shoots. My iPhone 5s wasn't cutting it so I convinced my parents to gift me a Canon Rebel T6s for my graduation.
THROUGH THE YEARS
JUNE 2017
I photographed a few of my friends for their senior photos. Started sharing my work and earning an income for my photography business for the first time. From, Rayna was established.
THROUGH THE YEARS
SEPTEMBER 2018
During college I took a multitude of photography courses and trainings and spent half of my time in the dark room developing film. I see this year as the one I really started perfecting my craft and started marketing myself seriously.
THROUGH THE YEARS
OCTOBER 2022
Flipped my world 180 at the end of 2022. I got engaged, moved out of Fort Collins, volunteered at the USA/MEX border for a month, traveled around, then settled down in a small mountain town west of Colorado Springs where I started working as a photographer for the U.S. Air Force Academy on top of running From, Rayna.
THROUGH THE YEARS
SEPTEMBER 2023
Drew and I got married in Nisswa, MN at the same summer camp we met and got engaged at.
THROUGH THE YEARS
MARCH 2024
After seven years spent in the Rocky Mountains, Drew and I became homeowners and packed up for a move to West Michigan to be closer to family. Leaving the mountains was hard on us but we're lucky to have traded views with the beautiful Lake Michigan.
Bucket List Locations
Invest in my travel and lodging for any of the following locations, and you'll receive a session of your choosing free. Weddings included.
USA
/ CAPE COD, MA
/ Cannon Beach, OR
/ YOSEMITE NP
INTERNATIONAL